Stormwater runoff management: Part 1

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Public Works

OSTI ID:37363

Lee, G F; Jones-Lee, A ^[1]

---

1. G. Fred Lee and Associates, El Macero, CA (United States)

The basic question is related to practicality and cost-effectiveness--that is, are the structural stormwater control devices being installed in many areas of the country actually doing the job for which they are designed? Public works directors for many cites and counties, and stormwater management agencies are involved in developing programs designed to implement best management practices (BMPs). These structures supposedly control chemical contaminants in stormwater runoff from urban areas. Current activities in stormwater quality management have evolved from the EPA`s National Urban Runoff Program (NURP) begun in the 1970s. An extension of that program was established in 1990 to implement the stormwater-related provisions of the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act. This article discusses issues of assessing real pollution, i.e., designated beneficial use impairment in receiving waters, that stormwater run-off causes. Without a clear understanding of the pollution caused (or not caused) by runoff, it is obviously not possible to develop technically valid, cost-effective control programs that control pollution to the maximum extent practicable.

• OSTI ID: 37363
• Journal Information: Public Works, Journal Name: Public Works Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 125; ISSN PUWOAH; ISSN 0033-3840
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
POLLUTANTS
RUNOFF
SURFACE WATERS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL